Related top topics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree is an
American professional doctorate earned through one of two
established training models for Clinical
Psychology. The Psy.D. degree is an applied clinical doctorate
on the same level as (in alphabetical order) D.D.S. (Doctor of
Dental Surgery), D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), D.P.M.
(Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine), M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), O.D. (Doctor of Optometry),
DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice), and other applied clinical
doctoral degrees. In the United States, the other doctorate-level
degree in Clinical
Psychology is the Ph.D.. An individual who earns a Psy.D. or
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from an accredited program may become
licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, conduct
psychological testing and complete psychological evaluations, and
provide psychotherapy. In most states, psychologists do not
prescribe medications.

Contents

Training

Psy.D. coursework and practica are designed to produce a
professional who is a practitioner first, and a scientist second. A
solid understanding of scientific method and behavioral science is
required of both Psy.D.'s and Ph.D.'s alike; however Psy.D.
programs focus particularly on applying this knowledge to direct
clinical intervention in the diagnosis and treatment of various
mental illnesses, brain injuries, and other clinical impairments in
which psychological approaches can be of use. Most Psy.D. programs
take 4-7 years to complete, and require extensive training in
assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy, in addition to research
methods, theoretical training, neuroscience, and other specialized
training in behavioral and social sciences. Psy.D. and Ph.D.
candidates alike must participate in supervised part-time practicum
placements in various clinical settings during their training,
followed by an accredited full-time supervised clinical
internship.

Unlike many other professional doctoral degrees, completion of
the Psy.D. usually requires submission of a (usually quantitative)
doctoral dissertation, or a clinical doctoral project. The Psy.D.
dissertation is similar to the dissertation required in a
psychology Ph.D. program, however the Psy.D. dissertation almost
always focuses on clinical/applied topics.

After a person obtains a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in psychology, most
states require a year of post-doctoral clinical work (similar to a
medical residency) to sit for state and national boards to become a
licensed psychologist. Some states require two years of work, while
a few have removed the requirement altogether. Some argue that the
post-doctoral year, which originally provided clinical experience
in research-heavy clinical programs, is obsolete given the
considerable experience now afforded students in most accredited
doctoral programs.

It should be noted that this training is different from the
training required to become a psychiatrist. While psychologists are
professionals who train exclusively in behavior and mental health,
psychiatrists are medical doctors with either an M.D. or a D.O.
degree who specialize in behavioral health after receiving general
medical training. Both psychologists and psychiatrists are able to
diagnose mental disorders and provide psychotherapy. However,
psychiatrists are able to offer pharmacotherapy (medication) as an
additional tool for treatment, while psychologists in most states
do not prescribe. Another difference is that most psychiatrists do
not receive training in psychological testing to the same extent as
psychologists. Professionals from both fields often work
side-by-side to develop comprehensive treatment plans that meet the
individual needs of their patients. Psychologists often refer
patients to psychiatrists for medication evaluations, and likewise,
psychiatrists frequently refer patients to psychologists for
testing or psychotherapy.

The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits both
Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs. Most managed care organizations and the
majority of licensing boards require licensed psychologists to have
completed training in accredited programs and complete internships
at accredited sites. Aspiring psychologists should be certain to
check the accreditation status of schools before applying, and
patients/clients should be encouraged to determine whether their
clinician was trained at a fully accredited program. Only a person
who has earned a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in clinical psychology from an
accredited program my refer to herself or himself as a "clinical
psychologist." More information can be found at www.apa.org.

Background

The practitioner-scholar model
and the associated Psy.D. degree were recognized by the Vail Conference on models of training in
clinical psychology.[1]
Practitioners and academics at this conference argued that the
field of psychology had grown to a degree that warranted training
persons explicitly in clinical psychology. While both the Ph.D. and
Psy.D. models of training include basic science and a practical skills component, there
are clear differences in relative emphases on the role of research
versus clinical activity, with Ph.D. programs emphasizing research
and Psy.D. programs putting greater emphasis on clinical
applications and interventions. Graduates of both training models
are eligible for licensure in all states (licensing exams and renewal
requirements are the same for both degrees).

In 1973, the American Psychological Association, at its
Conference on Levels and Patterns of Professional Training in
Psychology (The Vail Conference), endorsed the Doctor of
Psychology degree (Psy.D.). This supported applied training that
would respond to a healthcare industry demand for psychologists who
could function in a variety of practitioner roles. Ph.D. programs,
usually quite small, were not producing enough professional psychologists to satisfy the needs of the
growing field of mental health care.

Before this period, professional training for psychologists
followed "The Boulder Model" (est. 1948) in which a psychologist
earned a Ph.D. for competence both as a scientist
and as a professional. The Boulder Model's ability to prepare its
graduates for academic and research positions was unquestioned for
years by the psychology establishment, by and large, but there was
a growing interest in a degree that was self-identifying, as well
as growing evidence that Ph.D. graduates in clinical
psychology nearly always chose to be practitioners. The Vail Conference recognized that
opportunities for psychological practice were now both diverse and
complex and required training that focused on applications of
psychology toward practice. It was decided that it was time to
develop applied programs that awarded an applied doctorate, the
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. The Ph.D. and the Psy.D. then
stood as two different degree-designations for professional
psychologists and provided more choices in training programs.

Each degree has its criticisms. The Ph.D. in professional
psychology is criticized for taking too long to complete (typically
6–7 years). The length of the program, which may be twice as long
as medical school, makes it extremely difficult to complete. Some
even suggest that the high GRE score requirements and
rigorous structure of the program are biased against minority
candidates. Still others argue that the research emphasis in Ph.D.
programs does not adequately prepare such candidates for actual
practice.

The Psy.D. has been criticized by some for taking too many
students. As demand for qualified psychologists grows however, the
academic demands placed upon students are growing (see
"Accreditation" above), gradually forcing programs to become more
selective with regard to who can be admitted. In addition, Psy.D.
programs typically require students to pay to attend just as
medical, dental, and other professional schools would, while Ph.D.
programs typically provide an assistantship package, a feature
common among other academic and research oriented programs who
obtain grants for research activities, which may then be used to
fund training for students who double as research assistants on a
particular project.

Ph.D.'s, with their heavier training emphasis on research, are
often considered more likely candidates for academic positions in
teaching and research institutions, whereas Psy.D.'s have gained
favor in many clinical settings. Essentially however, a
doctoral-level psychologist is licensed and qualified to perform
the same functions whether she or he has a Psy.D. or a Ph.D.

Practice

Upon graduation, students are expected to understand psychology
at a psychological-service-provider level, use their clinical
skills as practitioners, use scientific findings for clinical
practice, and conduct independent research.

One benefit of the Psy.D. is that by having a separately
distinguishing degree, e.g., Doctor of Psychology, psychologists
have a direct designation as clinicians. While the Doctor of
Education (Ed.D.) was once considered fully adequate for
psychologists seeking an applied orientation, it was felt that a
self-identifying degree fostered the perception of psychology as a
clinical science rather than a primarily educational, social, or
behavioral science discipline. The Psy.D., then, was created to
support the growing field of clinical psychology, which had reached
well beyond its origins in educational testing and talk
therapy.

This type of clear designation is standard practice for applied
degrees (e.g., Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of
Chiropractic). Arguments against a specialty degree include
complaints about its applied nature, which some persons (primarily
Ph.D.-trained psychologists) feel places it "below"
research-emphasizing degrees such as the Ph.D. But such an argument
spawns much debate; medical degrees such as the M.D. and D.O. for
instance, are in fact specialized, practice-oriented,
scientist/professional degrees that have long since proven
indispensable.

Historically, psychology was often housed in schools of
education. After being widely recognized as a science (behavioral
science), especially in recent years as it has increased its
emphasis on the the study of evidence-based practices, it has
migrated from the confines of such schools. With the broadening of
health care concerns to include matters of perception, attitude,
and behavior, professional psychology has increasingly been
incorporated into the medical realm of health professionals. For
example, clinical psychologists are often trained in
psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral restructuring which can
help noncompliant patients adhere to their treatment regimens
(taking medications, etc.) Health psychologists work with
physicians and patients to address health concerns like pain
management, coping with long-term illnesses, and help patients
manage diseases resulting from habits like smoking and overeating
that can be corrected with changes in behavior. Likewise, clinical
neuropsychologists use numerous assessment techniques to determine
the impact of various brain illnesses and injuries on a patient's
behavior, making targeted recommendations for treatment and
rehabilitation. These specializations within the field of
professional psychology are based firmly in a blend of biology,
physiology and behavioral science, and while they are far removed
from the stereotypical "couch therapy" portrayed in the media, they
have proven themselves to be of great value in the provision of
health care across many settings.